Knitting machine



H. H. HOLMES 2,023,261-

KNITTING MACHINE Dec 3, 1935.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1934 Dec. 3, 1935 H H HOLMES 7 2,023,261

KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q INVINTOR MW F W I Dec. 3, 1935. HOLMES 2,023,261

KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 III/II/I/I/I/I/IA mvzwron WWW Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Application April 25, 1934, Serial No. 722,272 In Great Britain December 20, 1932 8 Claims.

This invention consists in improvements in or relating to knitting machines of the type in which in addition to a ground-thread or threads, walethreads are knitted, preferably one on every nee- 5 dle, so as to produce a type of fabric which is substantially ladderproof.

In the specifications of prior United States application No. 600,780 filed March 23, 1932, there is described a ladderproof fabric of this type and 10 means for knitting the fabric in which each walethread loop is plated substantially wholly in rear of its associated ground-thread loop and the present invention has for its object to provide means whereby the quality of the plating will be 15 improved. In the specifications of prior United States applications Nos. 642,254 filed Nov. 11, 1932, and 642,246 filed Nov. 11, 1932, means for assisting in the rear-plating of the Wale-thread loops have already been described and the pres- 20 cut invention is applicable in conjunction with the inventions described in these prior specifications.

According to the present invention, means is provided for relatively adjusting each wale- 26 thread guide and its associated needle to hold the Wale-thread towards the front of the needle hook and in front of the ground-thread loop therein when or until the needle has descended to the bottom or approximately to the bottom of 30 the stitch-cam, or as it descends that cam. The Wale-thread is thus held in the most favourable position as the old loops are cast off from their needle to ensure that the Wale-thread loop will lie in rear of the ground-thread loop in the fin- 35 ished fabric.

Conveniently, the relative adjustment between the Wale-thread guide and its needle is obtained by a device which serves to delayv positively or virtually the full wrapping movement of the thread-guide until the needle has descended to or approximately to the bottom of the stitchcam.

A virtual delay of the wrapping movement is to be understood to include a return outward 45 movement of the thread-guide after it has made its full wrapping movement, the return being to such a position as to hold the wale-thread in its required relation to the needle before the latter has completed its descent of the stitch-cam.

50 In order that the invention may be more clearly understood a preferred example will now be described with the aid of the accompanying.

drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates the relative positions of a 55 Wale-thread feeder-head and needle-cylinder,

similar to that referred to in the specification of prior United States application No. 600,780 filed Mar. 23, 1932, together with means to supply Wale-threads to the feeder-head,

Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

' Figure 3 illustrates in plan the cam mechanism for actuating the thread-guides.

Figure 4 illustrates in elevation the essential portions of the feeder-head including the camactuating mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 5a shows, on an enlarged scale, a detail of Figure 5,

. Figure 6 is a view, looking from the left of Figure 5, of the needle in the position shown in Figure 5 relatively to the stitch-cam, and

Figure 7 is an exploded view showing several parts of the feeder cam-actuating mechanism, and

Figure 8 is another exploded View showing other parts of the feeder cam actuating mechanism.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the accompanying drawings.

Referring first of all to Figures 1 and 2, the machine comprises the usual needle-cylinder [0 having needles ll therein and a needle-actuating cam-box l2. In addition there is a Wale-thread feeder-head I3 having in it Wale-thread feeders l4 preferably one for each needle. As in the previous construction referred to the feeder-head comprises upper and lower guide-rings I5 for 36 guiding the threads from reel type bobbins it, carried by an overhead rack, down to the walethread feeders. The latter are preferably similar to those described in prior United States application No. 559,314 filed August 25, 1931. In the 40 present instance, however, the bobbins 16 are arranged in two tiers and the bobbins of each tier are supported by their flanges on a channelled support ll, the side flanges of which project upwardly to cradle the lower portions of the bobbin flanges. There may be any number of superposed channels such as I? according to the number of bobbins to be carried in the machine.

Between each pair of bobbins is a division plate l8 secured to the channel I! to limit bodily movement of the bobbins circumferentially of the channels. The Wale-threads H) are unwound from the bottoms of the bobbins and pass upwardly each over a guide pulley 20 and then downwardly to its Wale-thread feeder M. For each walethread there is a wire dropper 2| pivotally mounted about the axis of its associated guide pulley 20 and each thread in passing from its pulley is led through a loop at the outer extremity of its dropper. Thus, as the draw-off devices draw off lengths of thread in succession from the bobbins, first for the needle-wrapping operation and then for the loop-forming operation, any inequality in the lengths of the threads drawn off from the bobbins will be dealt with by the droppers.

Each bobbin, by reason of the manner in which it is supported, can move bodily in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation and the frictfonal engagement between the rims of the bobbin flanges and the supporting channels I! serves to supply a sufficient braking action to oppose the unwinding of the thread from the bobbins. The requisite tension of the Wale-threads is thus obtained to a large extent if not wholly and this materially assists in the quality of the plating produced.

By mounting the bobbins in this manner and by the use of droppers 2| it is found that the Wale-threads all pass to their Wale-thread feeders and from the latter to the needles under a substantially uniform tension without material slack in the threads.

In Figure 5 Wale-thread feeder actuating cams 22, 23, 24 and 25 are illustrated of which cams 22 and 23 are swinging cams and serve to move the thread-guides outwardly, and cams 24 and 25 are fixed return cams. The normal inoperative position of the Wale-thread feeders is that indicated on the left of Figure 1. That is to say, in wrapping a Wale-thread round its needle each Wale-thread feeder commences to move from inside the needle-circle outwardly on one side of the needle and is then deflected and returned again to the inside of the needle-circle on the opposite side of the needle. Cam 22 serves to move the thread-feeders in succession outwardly to commence the wrapping movement and cam 24 serves to return them to complete the movement. A defleeting cam 26 (Figure 4) engages seriatim with the thread-feeders to deflect them laterally after they have been moved outwardly to their full extent by the cam 22 and before they are returned by the cam 24. The form and function of cam 26 will be, as to its essentials, similar to the form and function of cam 30 described and illustrated in the mechanism according to United States application Serial No. 559,314, filed August 25, 1931. After the feeders have passed cam they will have been returned inwardly to the full extent but this is not the most favourable position for ensuring satisfactory rear-plating and in aceordance with the present invention cam 23 is provided to throw the feeders outwardly again to a position relatively to their needles as indicated in the lower part of Figure 5.

As shown in the drawings, when each threadfeeder is moved outwardly by the cam 23 it will be in a position to hold its thread forwardly of the needle and in front of the ground-thread loop 55 (see Fig. 511).

Each thread-feeder will reach the highest or outermost point of cam 23 by the time that the associated needle has descended the stitch-cam approximately to the position illustrated in Figure 6, and while the needle makes its final descent to the bottom of the stitch-cam, return cam 25 will act upon the thread-guide to return it again to its innermost position.

In this arrangement of cams the operation of cam 23 is to be understood as a virtual delay in the return movement of the thread-feeder because the effect of it is the same as though the feeder had first been moved outwardly and then deflected laterally across the front of the needle 5 and only partially returned until the needle has reached approximately the bottom of the stitchcam. In fact a positive delay could have been employed instead of the virtual delay just described were it not for the necessity of including in the machine devices such as yarn-changers for the ground-thread and a trapper and cutter, the action of which must take place in between that of cams 2'2 and 23. If, therefore, when these devices are present a continued delay of the return of the Wale-thread feeders had occurred the feeders themselves would foul the yarn-changers, trapper and cutter. Consequently, in the majority of machines contemplated by the present invention cams such as 22 and 23 will be employed whereby the Wale-thread feeders are first returned to their full extent to complete the usual wrapping movement, and after the yarn-changers and such parts have cleared each individual feeder during the rotation of the machine, the feeder is again advanced to the position corresponding to the delayel return under the influence of cam 23. It will be appreciated that upwardly-extending butts 2'! of the thread-feeders l4 traverse the earn-track, the feeder-head moving in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5 and it is to be understood that in the preferred construction of machine a revolving cam-box is employed both for the feeder-head and in the needle-cylinder.

In a hose machine, contemplated by the present invention, it is desirable, when knitting heels and toes, to put the Wale-thread guides out of action and for this purpose cams 22 and 23 must be swunginwardly towards the axis of the feeder-head. The mechanism for swinging the cams inwardly and outwardly under the control of any preferred form of pattern mechanism is as follows:-

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and '7 it will be seen that the cam 22 is fulcrumed on a pin 39 in a 5 plate 29 of the feeder-head. The pin 30 also serves as the pivot for a swinging lever 3|. At one end the lever 35 carries a pin 32 which enters a slot 33 formed in a slide 34 and the other end of the lever is engaged by a stem 35 projecting upwardly from the end of cam 22, and passing through an arcuate slot 31 in plate 29. The slide 34 has a rack 38 formed on its upper edge and the teeth of this rack are geared by a pinion 39, rotating about a fixed spindle 60, with a rack 4! formed on the lower edge of a second slide 42.

The shape of the slot 33 is such that as the slide 3 is moved towards the right the pin 32 will rock the lever 38 in a clockwise direction (Figure 3). The pin 35 will move in the arcuate slot 3'! which is concentric about the axis of the fulcrum 30 and cam 22 will thus be swung inwardly out of action.

Similarly cam 23 has a pin 43 which moves in an arcuate slot 44 also formed in the lower plate 29 and mounted on the fulcrum 45 by which the cam 23 is carried is a swinging lever 46, one end of which engages the pin 33 and the other end of which has a pin 4? which is engaged within a slot 48 formed in a slide 49. Upstanding from the slide 29 is a pin 52 fixed to the slide and this pin is engaged by one end of another lever 52 pivotally mounted at 53 and provided with a pin 5 at its opposite end. When the lever 52 is turned in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 the slide 49 will be moved to the lefthand side and the pin 47 will ride up the slot 48 to turn the lever 46 and cam 23 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 45. This movement serves to bring the cam 23 into its inoperative position. Both these movements may be brought about by means of an external abutment movable under the control of a pattern chain or the like and such an abutment is indicated at 55 in Figure 4. Such an abutment will have a plurality of vertical positions to engage the selected slides.

In the position illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the cams 22 and 23 are in the position for actuating their thread-guides. When the cams are to be rendered inoperative for knitting heels and toes said abutment 55 is moved to engage the slide 42 and pin 54 successively thus swinging both cams inwardly. When the cams are to be brought again into operation the adjustable abutment is moved respectively to engage pin 5| carried by slide 34 and pin 50 carried by slide 49 whereupon slides 34 and 49 will be again moved to the positions illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The mechanism described is by way of example only as any other preferred means may be employed for rendering cams such as 22 and 23 operative and inoperative at will.

In order that the Wale-thread loops shall be plated each substantially wholly in rear of its associated ground-thread loop it is essential that the normal position of the Wale-thread feeder before wrapping commences is inside the needlecircle and that all wrapping operations commence from the inside, then pass round the needles in an outward direction and back again to the inside. Also it is important that the Wale-thread feed should be from a position above the lie of the ground-thread feed.

I claim:--

1. A knitting machine comprising a reciprocable needle, a movable Wale-thread guide, and actuating means for said Wale-thread guide arranged to move the same through a thread wrapping cycle to wrap the Wale-thread around the needle while the needle is in one position, and means for causing it to again move to the front of the needle to a limited extent until the needle reaches another predetermined position.

2. A knitting machine comprising a reciprocable needle, a movable Wale-thread guide, and actuating means for said Wale-thread guide arranged to move the same through a thread wrapping cycle to wrap the Wale-thread around the needle, and means for subsequently effecting another movement thereof to again move the walethread to the front of the needle whereby the Wale-thread may be uniformly positioned with respect to a ground-thread engaged in the needle.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination of a Wale-thread feeder, a needle associated therewith, and means for moving the Wale-thread feeder from the back to the front of the needle to hold the Wale-thread towards the front of the needle hook and in front of the groundthread loop therein, until the associated needle has reached a predetermined position with respect to said stitch cam.

4. The subject matter of claim 3, in which the movement of the Wale-thread feeder with respect to the movement of its needle is obtained by means which serves to delay the full wrapping movement of the thread-guide until the 5 needle has descended to approximately the bot tom of the stitch cam.

5. In a knitting machine, the combination of a Wale-thread feeder, a needle associated therewith, and means for moving the Wale-thread feeder with respect to the movement of its associated needle to hold the Wale-thread towards the front of the needle-hook and in front of the ground-thread 100p therein until the associated needle has reached a predetermined position with'respect to said stitch cam, said adjusting means comprising in combination two cams operable one after the other for moving the walethread feeders successively across the line or circle of needles, the first cam constituting part of the mechanism for causing the feeder to wrap its thread around the needle and the second cam serving to return the feeder after its wrapping movement has been completed, to the required position whereby the thread is held towards the front of the needle and in front of the ground-thread loop therein.

6. In a circular knitting machine, a plurality of Wale-thread feeders, a needle associated with each Wale-thread feeder and forming a needle circle, a stitch cam, means for moving each Wale-thread feeder at a predetermined time from the inside of the needle circle, around the needle in an outward direction and back again to the inside of the circle, and means for advancing the feeder to a position whereby the Wale-thread is held towards the front of the needle-hook and in front of the ground-thread therein until the associated needle has reached a predetermined position with respect to said stitch cam.

7. In a circular knitting machine, a plurality of Wale-thread feeders, a needle associated with each Wale-thread feeder and forming a needle circle, a stitch cam, means for moving each walethread feeder at a predetermined time from the inside of the needle circle, around the needle in an outward direction and back again to the inside of the circle, means for advancing the feeder to a position whereby the Wale-thread is held towards the front of the needle-hook and in front of the ground-thread therein until the associated needle has reached a predetermined position with respect tosaid stitch cam, and means for rendering the Wale-thread feeders inoperative.

8. In a knitting machine, a Wale-thread feeder,

a ground-thread feeder, a needle associated with the Wale-thread feeder, a stitch cam, and means for moving the Wale-thread feeder from the back to the front of the needle to hold the Wale-thread towards the front of the needle-hook and in front of the ground-thread loop therein until the associated needle has reached a predetermined position with respect to said stitch cam, said Wale-thread feeder being positioned above the ground-thread feeder.

. HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. 

